Living in the USA, of course, I've not driven an M6. Now, if one can rely on the figures attained by "The Stig" of Top Gear, I just saw on youtube.com the episode in which they square off an Aston Martin, a BMW M6 and a 997 Carrera (I don't remember if it was an S or not) and the Carrera obliterated the Aston and the M6 by more than 5 seconds on a stretch of road off the Isle of Man IN THE RAIN!!! Now, that is more reflective of a real world driving experience than the typical straight line acceleration runs that don't do anything for me at all. I like to go to track events with the Porsche Club of America in my region and all the instructors say that anyone can overtake you with more power on a car in a straight line but it is really in the turns that one proves who's a better driver or which car is better to cover ground faster. I've seen instructors in the same run group being overtaken by a 914 while they've been driving far more powerful cars. From what I hear, BMW M3 brakes aren't worth anything for track work, they just get cooked at tracks like Sebring, whereas you can take a Porsche straight out of the dealer and can rely on the brakes being there, lap after lap. Let's not compare a real sports car like a Porsche or a Ferrari with lesser machinery. Who cares what kind of power a BMW M3 or M anything will have. The nature of progress is that you improve on what is out there, once you have a benchmark figure to beat. Now, in Porsche's case, why are they always the ones to beat??? Can it be that they set the benchmarks??? Let's see what they do in the next evolutions of the venerable 911 and may it live on! I for one would never change my 997 S with anything less than a better Porsche product (or, I admit it, an F430 perhaps.)